"For the first time, on March 5^th, the members of the Austrian Bishop's Conference and the Bishop's Conference of Bosnia and Herzegovina gathered in Sarajevo to witness the communion of the Church in these two countries, which are connected through a common history and numerous events. The place of the encounter is the city for which Pope Francis on his visitation in 2015., said to have “rightly got the title of ‘European Jerusalem’”. The Bishops of Bosnia and Herzegovina are grateful to their bishop brothers from Austrian to come here to pray together, to meet each other, get to know each other, to exchange their thoughts and to share the joy and sorrow of the people and of the Church in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The visit of the bishop on a Sunday of Solidarity, which is celebrated in Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina on the Third Sunday in Lent, is an important sign. The contributions from this Sunday help the needy who remained in Bosnia and Herzegovina and who still face the consequences of the war. With their arrival here, the Austrian bishops gave a sign, especially and firstly to the young people who have been leaving this country for years going to Western Europe, and many of them went to Austria.

It is a joyous fact that the visit of the Austrian bishops takes place on the centennial anniversary of the death of the first Archbishop of Vrhbosna Josip Stadler. During the times of Archbishop Stadler, with great help from Austria, numerous churches and ecclesiastical institutions were built and established in Bosnia and Herzegovina. This was a great help for the Church’s mission in a country in which up until then the church life was maintained almost exclusively by the Franciscan Order. A hundred years ago, Sarajevo and the country experienced the time of their establishment, as evidenced by numerous buildings of then established state, cultural and other institutions, in the center of the capital but other cities as well.
 
The Church and many people in Bosnia and Herzegovina have not forgotten that numerous charitable institutions from Austria, such as Caritas or Kirche in Not (Church in need), as well as actions such as Nachbar in Not (Neighbour in need) and many individuals, helped during the recent war. In addition to this gratitude, there is also gratitude for the spiritual gifts that came out of the connection of the Church of both countries. Among them, two remarkable examples in the form of blessed ones who were from Austria but worked in Bosnia and Herzegovina: sister Berchmana Leidenix, a martyr of Drina, who was specially engaged in education and upbringing, and Ivan Merz, who is worshiped as a protector of youth.

By having their plenary session, the Austrian bishops continue the footsteps of Pope John Paul II. and Pope Francis who visited Sarajevo as messengers of peace and who wanted to help treat war and postwar wounds. The visit of the Austrian episcopate is at the same time a sign of solidarity with the Church in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which during the war between 1992. and 1995. and in the post-war era has been subjected to numerous temptations. In many parts of the country, Catholics are in a threat of complete disappearance. With their visit, bishops want to encourage those who remain and to bring hope for the future. The activity of the Church in Bosnia and Herzegovina is impressive: numerous ecclesiastical, educational, and social institutions are open to all people regardless of religion and thus are a living witness of hope and concrete Christian love.

Therefore, the Austrian bishops want to continue to be the carriers of various initiatives that should help the believers living here to take life again in their own hands and to live and work in harmony with others. The bishops also want to be ambassadors of the dramatic situation that Catholics are in, in many parts of the country and bring that to the attention of other Bishop’s Conferences. With their visits to the highest political and religious representatives in the country, they wanted to express their closeness and support to all people of good will in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

 Many people from Bosnia and Herzegovina came to Austria because of the war. They found protection and security and at the same time enriched the country. Because of them and because of Bosnia and Herzegovina, it is to be hoped that many of them will see the future in their homeland again, return to help with rebuilding and enriching their country.

Bosnia and Herzegovina has not yet come to full and just peace. There are still tensions and distrust in the country that endanger coexistence. Therefore, the bishops from Austria, together with the bishops from Bosnia and Herzegovina, appeal to all the holders of accountability in the country and at international level, to stand for the construction of just peace. There for it is important to respect human dignity and all the rights and freedoms of all members of society, as well as the equality of the three nations living in Bosnia and Herzegovina. There can be no “second-grade citizens” in this country or mechanisms of systematic discrimination. The bishops of both countries support Bosnia and Herzegovina on its way to European integration. Bosnia and Herzegovina was and still is a part of Europe through its history and rich cultural heritage.

100 years ago, the First World War ended. Millions of people lost their lives. Remembering this disaster and mass suffering should empower the Christians and all people of good will to take a peaceful coexistence. We confess Jesus Christ as the Knight of Peace and pray for him. In this faith, we encourage all people to unite in the way of peace and good. This is the way of God, the only true way for every man, every society and every country.